Disclaimer- I do not own Young Justice or any of it's characters.
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Chapter Length: 398 words
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Artemis couldn't even find it within herself to return home; if she did that, who was to say Lawrence wouldn't take her mom out in a fit of anger, or use her as a crutch against her?
The blonde took refuge instead inside of the old dilapidated store she had talked to Cameron and the Twins in so very long ago. It was dark there, and the floors creaked with her every breath, making her nervous. She settled herself down behind the counter, feeling like a useless coward but knowing this was all the for best.
She'd deliberately left a trail here from her father's hospital headquarters. She'd done it the day before, while every werewolf was recovering from the immense fatigue that came after a full moon. It had sapped so much of her strength to do it, but she'd traversed from the hospital to this very store over and over again, back and forth on a precise route that led to her. Her smell would be strong, and it wouldn't be long before he came.
So Artemis waited for a day after the full moon, and Lawrence came for her then, just as she had known he would.
She smelled them all before she heard them. She hadn't moved, just set her jaw in a grim line and waited. Tommy and Tuppence had smashed through the glass, and before Artemis could blink they were both on her, kicking and beating and scratching until she was curled up in a ball, clutching her bruised abs.
"You ain't lookin' too purty now, Artemis," Tommy laughed, pressing her face against the dirt on the floor. Tuppence kicked at his shin, hissing, "He's comin', stop foolin' around, you idiot."
They quieted, and Artemis breathed hard, the exhaled air from her nostrils sending particles of dirt skittering across the faded tiles. She felt humiliated and pissed, but she swallowed down everything; all her pride, all her dignity, all her desires to take every single one of them out with her bare claws.
This was the only way she could fix things.
A boot stepped down on the floor in front of her face.
Artemis gazed up with hatred in her eyes. Lawrence loomed above her, his face set hard and livid.
"You've crossed the line, baby girl," he menaced; the worst part was how calm he sounded.
Artemis closed her eyes.